MILAN, July 13 - Stellantis said preliminary vehicle shipments for the second quarter climbed 10% from the same period a year earlier, reaching nearly 1.6 million units. The gain was driven principally by robust performance in North America, the automaker's largest market.
In North America, shipments rose 38% in the quarter to 445,000 units. Stellantis attributed the boost to the introduction or refresh of several models, citing the Ram 1500 8-cylinder light-duty truck and its high-performance TRX SRT variant, updated versions of the Jeep Grand Wagoneer and Grand Cherokee, and the refreshed Chrysler Pacifica. The company also noted that the North American figure reflected preparations tied to a planned summer production shutdown.
Across the group's Enlarged Europe region, shipments increased 5% to 762,000 units, a result the company linked to higher industry volumes. That European total includes approximately 33,000 vehicles produced by Chinese partner Leapmotor that Stellantis distributes and retails in the region.
Within Europe, Stellantis reported particularly strong demand for its lower-priced models, naming the Citroen C3 and C3 Aircross, the Opel Frontera and the Fiat Panda as standout sellers.
Despite gains in North America and Europe, overall growth was partially offset by weaker shipments in other regions. The Middle East and Africa region experienced lower volumes, a decline Stellantis said was largely due to the regional conflict. South America also saw a reduction in shipments, with the company noting a softer performance in the Argentine market as a contributing factor.
Stellantis has scheduled the release of its full second-quarter financial results for July 30. The company also provided an exchange-rate reference of $1 = 0.8772 euros in its statement.
Context and implications
- Quarterly shipment growth was uneven across regions, concentrated in North America and Europe.
- Product refreshes and new model introductions were cited as a key driver of North American gains.
- External factors - including regional conflict and market weakness in Argentina - weighed on volumes in other areas.